Women vs. Men in Othello Essay Example

workforces in Othello easily succumb to their emotions due to ignorance and confusion throughout the play, whereas the women maintain their faith in love. In a male-dominated society, there are dangers, inequalities, defeats, and limitations that cause the women to adapt by maintaining a rational mindset in their relationships (Allen). While most critics focus on the relationship between Othello and Iago (Garner), a closer examination of Othello's mind reveals his wife Desdemona's immense power over him.Othello becomes weakened by grief when he believes Desdemona has been unfaithful.Although many portray the men in this play as embodiments of bravery,honor,and power,Othello's strength is jeopardized by his inability to control his emotions(Allen). Garner agrees that once Othello's jealousy and anger surface,Desdemona's honesty and bravery begin fading away(Garner).However,in spite of her murder attempt.Desdemona maintains her virtue and honesty as she continues upholding her marriage vows.Neely asserts that in Othello, Emilia's insight undermines Iago's bond with Othello, showcasing the triumph of female intuition and logic over male misconceptions of passion. The consequences faced by each man highlight the overarching romantic superiority of women. Unlike their male counterparts, the female characters exhibit trustworthy behavior devoid of covetousness. Through her portrayal, Neely effectively demonstrates how women like Bianca and Desdemona love sincerely while upholding moral standards and respecting their husbands. Throughout the play, men obsess over reputation at the expense of their sanity, often blaming those beneath them for their own actions. In contrast, women lack this class consciousness dominating men's minds and instead stand up for one another despite societal roles. Despite these powerful actions by women, it is undeniable that men dominate both politically and militarily in Venetian society. Scholars

argue that Othello and Iago assert authority through hidden power dynamics as they hold positions of power within society and families.According to Neely, men view uneducated women as objects and believe that they are unable to attain the same level of knowledge and eloquence as characters like Othello. Neely also argues that critics who hold this traditional perspective often belittle female characters like Desdemona in the play. (Neely)